Cruelty Free Festival

When: 28th October, 2012

Where:Sydney's Belmore Park, Haymarket

The Cruelty Free Festival is an annual event run by Animal Liberation NSW which aims to bring animal cruelty issues into the public eye and encourage people to make simple changes in their everyday lives to help save animals; changes such as buying products that havenít been tested on animals, kinder dietary choices (ultimately a vegan diet), fostering or adopting homeless animals, getting involved with and supporting animal charities.

The festival comprises of a main stage with live entertainment, a second stage for cooking demos, yoga, speakers and other fun activities. There is a licensed bar, a food hall section, a kids zone and over 60 stalls to create a vibrant, fun-filled festival atmosphere.

The Festival is first and foremost a public education event but also acts as a fundraiser for Animal Liberation NSW and the other animal rights, rescue and welfare groups who attend. Animal Liberation NSW is a not-for-profit charity group who campaign for the rights of all animals.

Festival Goals

1. To allow producers and retailers of cruelty free products and vegan foods to promote their brand and products to their target market.

2. To encourage people to change their lifestyle habits to reduce animal exploitation by purchasing products that have not been tested on animals and are accredited by Choose Cruelty Free.

3. To educate the public about the cruelty inherent to the production of meat and other animal derived products.

4. To demystify the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and allow people to see it as a viable, socially acceptable lifestyle choice that is better for their health, the environment and animals.

5. To allow animal rights groups to reach the public with their educational material and to provide them with a fundraising opportunity.

6. To use publicity generated by the festival to increase the general publicís awareness of, and prompt discussion about, animal rights issues and a vegan lifestyle.